Scientists have introduced an artificial intelligence tool designed to detect smuggled marine wildlife products, such as sea cucumbers, shark fins, and seahorses, at airports. This initiative aims to combat the significant illegal wildlife trade, which generates approximately $20 billion annually, as reported by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). The AI algorithm was trained on three-dimensional x-ray images of 68 samples and demonstrated an impressive accuracy rate of 92%, albeit with a false positive rate of 13%. Vanessa Pirotta, the lead author of the study from Macquarie University in Australia, noted that the technology could enhance wildlife enforcement efforts without replacing traditional methods like manual inspections or the use of biosecurity dogs. The researchers envision deploying this AI tool at airport checkpoints to improve detection capabilities and support enforcement actions against wildlife trafficking. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability, marking a significant step toward integrating advanced technology in wildlife protection efforts.